Protector for ingrowing toe-nails



(No Model.)

MARLEY. PROTECTOR FOR INGROWING TOE NAILS. No 465,870.

Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. MARLEY, OF IVILMINGTON, DELAYVARE.

PROTECTOR FOR ING ROWING TOE-NAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. $65,870, dated December 29, 189] Application filed September 7, 1891. Serial No. 405,026- (N0 odel.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. MARLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, haveinvented a new and useful lngrowing Nail Protector, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surgery, and more especially to devices used therein for preventing the ingrowing of toe and other nails, and the object of the same is to effect certain improvements therein.

To this end the invention consists in a device of the specific construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein Figurelis a perspective View of a foot with my device applied to the big toe thereof. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the toe on a larger scale, the device being attached. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the device alone. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which this device is cut.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter T designates in the presentinstance a toe, although in some rare cases it might be a finger or the thumb, and N is the nail, at the sides or edges of which,near the front end, the flesh sometimes grows inward, to the annoyance and discomfiture of the owner. My improved device for preventing this affliction consists of a piece of thin resilient metal comprising a body B, having outwardly-extending arms A at its sides, at the rear end, and shorter arms S at its front end, also projecting outward from the sides and preferably having their extremities turned over, as at O,to produce a small enlargement and prevent the raw edge of the metal from cutting the flesh. The blank shown inFig. 4 is then bent intoshape, as seen in Fig. 3, and applied to the toe, as elsewhere illustratedthat is to say, the body stands beneath the toe, the armsAsurround and embrace the body of the toe at the base of the nail and lap on top,the short arms S pass up at the sides of the toe, and the enlarged ends 0 take just under the edges of the nail. In this position the arms S gently press the tender flesh away from the 'nailand into place-the more so when the weight is placed on the foot.

I claim as the salient features of this invention The herein-described device for the cure of ingrowing toe-nails,the same comprising a Hat body, upwardly and inwardly curved long spring-arms rising from the sides thereof at its rear end and overlapping at their ends, and upwardly and inwardly curving short spring-arms rising from its sides at its front end, the whole adapted for use substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL S. MARLEY. Witnesses:

EDWARD B. Moasn, R BT. GRUNER. 

